Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

That phrase is used more in professional sports each year than "I just want to thank God," "take it one game at a time," and "both teams played hard" all combined. It's like professional athletes, coaches, and management can never get tired of informing the world that they get paid to do this. And amazingly, that's supposed to explain away any and all decisions.

Odom was so hurt when it leaked that he had been traded to the New Orleans Hornets from the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal for Chris Paul that was blocked by the league, he met with general manager Mitch Kupchak last weekend and requested a trade. Kupchak obliged by trading him to the world champion Dallas Mavericks for a traded player exception in what is being described as a "cash dump." Few believe that's the end to the Lakers' angle considering their remarkable ability to make moves to reload at a moment's notice. But the result is the same. Odom is no longer a Laker after six years, and he's not feeling good about it. On Tuesday he revealed exactly how he feels about it.

"This is the place I wanted to be,'' he said. "After I realized that I most likely wasn't going to be there, dallas was the one place where I thought I would be a great fit.''

Was he surprised the Lakers accommodated him?

"I think when you think about it, that kind of says it all,'' he said. "I guess it was just time from their standpoint I guess they just felt like to hell with it.''

"I told (Lakers management) that I'd be thankful if he could work with my agent, my representation so I could play for a team like the Mavs.

"It was just like overnight he told me they wanted to move me to New Orleans and we didn't feel like that was in our best interest.

"And how they did it. It wasn't about going to New Orleans, it was just about how they did it. I felt a little disrespected after being (in LA) for so long and going through so many things I felt like they could have just told me and I probably would have accepted it. If someone is telling you that you can't be here or there's no more room for you, you got to understand that. I think because it's just how they did it is the reason why I took it so personal.''

So yeah, pretty sure Jim Buss won't be getting a Christmas card from the Kardashians this year. Odom is not, did not, will not take this well. He was comfortable in L.A., it fit with his lifestyle, with his wife's lifestyle, with his general celebrity pursuits. He's in Dallas, playing for a contender, but beating L.A. may be just as high on his list of priorities.

Kobe Bryant and other Lakers responded to the trade and Odom's feelings on it later Tuesday:

“Yeah. I know about that whole process. Not knowing about coach Brown and so forth and so on. But the Lakers do things a certain way. This is the way that they do it, and you can’t take it personally. This is how they do business."

On whether he gets Odom feeling “disrespected"

“Yeah. You want to be told things before they obviously come out in public. Somebody that wins a couple championships with you, you’d think that’s what would happen. But it’s nothing personal. This is the way they go about doing it.”

"Lamar is a sensitive guy, though. Takes a lot of things personally. He won’t see it that way... You take it how you take it. But they’ve done it to him, they’ve done it to me, they’ve done it to Brian Shaw. It’s nothing personal, it’s just how they handle it… You can’t take it personally.”

A nice parting gift from Kobe, a crack about Odom's sensitivity. It remains to be seen whether Odom can fit into the Mavericks' locker room, a tight knit group that had beef with Odom and the Lakers last year during and after its sweep of the L.A. in the second round.

But one thing is for certain. Lamar Odom knows just how much of a business it is, and got a taste of why so many former players aren't close with the Lakers' organization. No one is bigger than the logo in L.A.. You can count your rings, but when the time comes, you'll have to count them somewhere else.

Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

More popular than the lakers!?!?!? C'mon man, wait til they win something!!

Since: Mar 31, 2011

Posted on: December 15, 2011 12:58 pm

Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

All these Laker fans that are whining about the trade need to realize something... The Clippers deal was a better deal!! With the Lakers deal New Orleans guaranteed to be a 7th to 10th place team in the West for the next 3 or 4 years. With the Clippers deal they have a future and have Gordon and a top player in next years draft (Best draft since 2003) to build a team around. Stop crying Lakers fans, the NBA has given you the better side of the reffing and scheduling since 2000 when Shaq got there. Suck it up Laker fans the Clippers are now better and gonna be more popular than you!!

Since: Sep 27, 2006

Posted on: December 15, 2011 10:36 am

Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

Stern is a jag. He blocked the trade to the Lakers to keep them from building their indomitable big 3 of Howard Kobe and Paul. So he could orchestrate a trade to the Clippers so they could compete with the Lakers in their same town. It was a gift for the Clippers and a snub to the Lakers!!!

Since: Mar 9, 2011

Posted on: December 14, 2011 11:34 pm

Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

Well Adolph Stern didnt want to see the Lakers have their day in the sun so he blocked the deal.Then before the Lakers could work another deal for CP3 he trades him.Im still not happy about the league owning a team. You are telling me no billionare out there wanted to buy the Hornets. Sterns a piece of SH#T

Since: Aug 11, 2008

Posted on: December 14, 2011 11:31 pm

Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

...and the Clippers get CP3. Could the Nets get Superman? The NBA just cannot survive if the Lakers do not get their way. It's all Lakers all the time. In fact why does the NBA have any other teams? Sarcasm aside, Mark Cuban will appreciate Odom a whole lot more than Jerry Buss did. Given recent events the Lakers may finally get punched in the stomach. This season might be fun after all.

Since: Mar 13, 2007

Posted on: December 14, 2011 8:26 pm

What goes around, comes around

So Let's see.... For those of you with attention spans longer than two weeks... and can remember a few years back...The Lakers get Gasol for nothing.... then they give up Odom for nothing.... sounds fair to me.

Since: Sep 21, 2006

Posted on: December 14, 2011 7:56 pm

Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

Lamar Odom is a drama queen. He always has been. He always will be. This is why he is the only male in America that can stay in a long term commitment to a Kardashian. He generates as much emption and drama as a little girl. Good riddance. He was always inconsistent. He had off nights, where his pout could be felt in the upper decks of Staples Center. Let him see how it is going to feel getting no hand-holding in Dallas. Suck it up Buttercup.

Since: Sep 11, 2007

Posted on: December 14, 2011 4:19 pm

Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

Wierd article, wierd situation...yeah, I get it (I guess?)

Since: Aug 30, 2006

Posted on: December 14, 2011 3:31 pm

Bridges between Odom, Lakers are burned

Kobe Bryant: And you also can't take rape or cheating on your wife personally either. I mean...this is how the Lakers do business.